Baltimore Jurors Award $15.3 Million to Meso Plaintiff

BALTIMORE -- A Maryland jury has awarded $15.3 million to an asbestos plaintiff who contended that his work with unencapsulated ropes repackaged and sold by John Crane were a substantial contributing factor to his mesothelioma. Linkus v. John Crane, et al., No. 24x07000063 (Md. Cir. Ct., Baltimore City).

The verdict was entered Jan. 30 by the Baltimore City Circuit Court jury but was reduced by two-thirds when jurors factored in joint tortfeasor liability.

Judge Carol E. Smith presided over the approximately three-week trial. Jurors deliberated for just over 30 minutes before reaching the verdict, sources told HarrisMartin.

George Linkus, who …